The Road to Dunkirk - by Nicolas Trudgian

After the Little Ships Had Gone

Issued with the main print, "After the Little Ships Had Gone" portrays the beach at Dunkirk in June 1940, strewn with wreckage left behind by the Allied troops rescued by the ‘little ships’ during Operation Dynamo.

Signed by the artist.

Overall size: 16½" x 11½"

The Signatories

Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC
Joining the RAF in July 1936, he was posted to 1 Sqn. at Tangmere in May 1937. The squadron went to France in September 1939 where Drake had multiple victories before being shot down by Bf 110s on the 13th May. Bailing out wounded, he was hospitalised before being flown back to the UK, returning to operational duties with 213 Sqn. at Tangmere on the 2nd October. Three weeks later he was posted to 421 Flight as a Flight Commander, claiming several more victories. His final score was 19 victories.

Wing Commander Peter Ayerst DFC
Joining the RAF in 1938, he was sent as part of the advance air striking force to France at the beginning of September 1939. With several victories in the Battle of France he was also the first pilot to engage a BF109 in combat. Upon the fall of France he was recalled to England where he became an instructor. In 1942 he was posted to North Africa, returning to the UK in 1944 and taking part in the D-Day operations.

Flight Lieutenant Peter Hairs MBE
Hairs joined the RAF VR in October 1937. He converted to Hurricanes and was posted to 501 Sqn on 24th January 1940. He went with the Squadron to France on the 10th May and on the 15th he shared in the destruction of a DO17. On returning to the UK he fought with distinction throughout the Battle of Britain and destroyed a Bf 109 on September 5th. He was posted to 15 FTS on the 13th October 1940.

Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM
Joining the RAF VR in April 1938, Farnes converted to Hurricanes and on the 14th September 1939 he joined 501 Sqn. which flew to France on the 10th May 1940 where Farnes achieved several victories. Upon withdrawal from France, the Squadron moved to Gravesend on the 26th July. During the next three months Farnes fought with distinction in the Battle of Britain, scoring more victories. He was awarded the DFM on the 22nd October 1940. In November 1940 he was posted to 57 OTU. His final tally was 8 victories with many damaged.

Wing Commander Jack Rose GMC MBE DFC
Rose joined the RAF in October 1938. Converting to Hurricanes he joined 3 Sqn. at Biggin Hill. The Squadron was then posted to France where it was attached to 63 Wing, seeing action for 10 days in May 1940 when Rose destroyed 3 enemy aircraft. The Squadron was withdrawn from France and returned to the UK. Rose was posted to 232 Sqn. then 32 Sqn. on the 22nd August.

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